CWA merger study prompts widespread media coverage

In early November, CWA released “The AT&T/T-Mobile Merger And Jobs: The Real Story,” a study with three major points:

•    The merger creates jobs and protects existing jobs.
•    Arguments by opponents are misguided and misleading.
•    The merger is better than alternatives

Predictably, Sprint and several nonprofits opposed to the merger attacked the study. But there was also widespread coverage that gave favorable balanced reporting. For instance:

CNET reported CWA’s position that “the merger would save or create more jobs than a deal between Sprint and T-Mobile. The union noted that Sprint has slashed its workforce and outsourced many of its operations, including the management of its network to Ericsson.”

The National Journal quoted from CWA Telecommunications Policy Director Debbie Goldman. Goldman, said National Journal, “argued that the study is flawed because it focused on AT&T’s past mergers involving both traditional telephone and wireless companies. She told National Journal that most of the job losses from past mergers were due to cuts in AT&T’s wireline work force.”

And Politico said of CWA:

“The labor union released its own analysis backing up AT&T’s job claims and attacking the Sprint study for sloppy research. CWA reasons that T-Mobile, which is already in a downward spiral, would end up losing jobs as it sputters out of business on its own, so the marriage of AT&T and T-Mobile would save more jobs, especially in light of AT&T’s job commitments.”

Speed Matters and CWA will continue to support the merger which, if completed,  promises broadband build-out, 96,000 new jobs and the return of currently outsourced jobs, and the chance for T-Mobile workers to choose their own union – something the current management has blocked.

The AT&T/T-Mobile Merger And Jobs: The Real Story (CWA study, Nov. 2011)

Union: AT&T/T-Mobile merger will create 100,000 jobs (CNET, Nov. 8, 2011)

Critics, Backers Battle Over AT&T Merger Jobs Claims (National Journal, Nov. 8, 2011)

AT&T, rivals spar over deal's impact (Politico, Nov. 9, 2011)